Answer this question truthfully
### Question: What causes Hospital-acquired pneumonia?
### Response: Pneumonia is a common illness. It is caused by many different germs. Hospital-acquired pneumonia tends to be more serious than other lung infections because:
Patients in the hospital are often very sick and cannot fight off germs.
The types of germs present in a hospital are often more dangerous than those encountered in the community.
Hospital-acquired pneumonia occurs more often in patients who are using a respirator machine to help them breathe. This machine is also called a ventilator. This type of pneumonia is known as ventilator-associated pneumonia.Hospital-acquired pneumonia can also be spread by health care workers, who can pass germs from their hands or clothes from one patient to another. That is why hand-washing, wearing gowns, and using other safety measures is so important in the hospital.
Patients who are more prone to getting hospital-acquired pneumonia:
Are alcoholic
Have had chest surgery or other major surgery
Have a weak immune system from cancer treatment, certain medicines, or severe wounds
Have long-term (chronic) lung disease
Breathe saliva or food into their lungs as a result of not being fully alert or problems swallowing
Are older